Weaponry Behind the Expansion of Rwanda

Rwanda's name, meaning "expansion," reflects its founding by Gihanga and centuries of territorial growth. Kings fueled this expansion, with a powerful military, playing a key role in conquering neighboring lands.

Rwanda's army structure revolved around recruitment, training, socialization, military duties, shared wealth (including war spoils), and mutual protection. All regiments fell under the king, with membership passed down through families.

Members of each regiment came from all over the country and were organized in war combattants, cattle raiders and servants that provided spears and spare arrows, providing supplies, accomodation and carrying war booty. In time of peace the recruits had social - political duties.

Rwandan weapons served multiple purposes: fighting, hunting, and defense against wild animals. Men carried spears, billhooks, or daggers. Hunters wielded heavier weapons, while chiefs and hire ranking people bore finely crafted ones.

Spears, arrows with metal tips launched from wooden bows, and wooden shields facilitated Rwanda's wars of conquest, territorial expansion, and annexation of neighboring lands. 

The following slides showcase some of these commonly used weapon:

These shields, intended for battle, were made of wood reinforced with a vine wicker lining, durable yet, flexible and generally covered with a cow dung. The handle attached to it was made from wood. The wicker part was intended to stop arrows and spears.

Unlike the light, elegant spears used for parades, hunting and battlefields employed larger, heavier, and more roughly crafted spears.

This double-edged sword featured a sharp tip and was sheathed in wood. The scabbard, crafted from two fitted pieces, protected the blade and might be decorated with carvings or animal skin. The sword was typically carried on the back.

The long bladed billhook with a curved round blade, was a weapon for striking.

Following the colonial period, traditional weapons became less common due to urbanization, environmental protection laws, and the widespread use of firearms. Tragically, these same weapons played a horrific role in the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.